Lady&#39;s handbag



May 30,1944. R. APPEL LADY"S HANDBAG Filed June 7. 1943 IN V EN TOR. ROBERT APPEL.

ATTORNEX Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f 2,349,926- 7 i f-LADYsHANDBAc, i

I Robert Appel, NewYoilaN. 'l 7 Application June 'l, mastitis... 489,878

2 Claims.

This invention relates to handbags and articles of similar character, and more particularly to the closure means therefor.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of a separable captive closure, designed to close the open top of a handbag as well as to keep out dust, dirt and rain, and yet of such simplicity that no other than ordinary instrumentalities need be employed in the manufacture and assembly thereof.

Another object is the provision of a closure which is inexpensive to manufacture, and requires but the most elementary skill in its production.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a closure preferably of inverted trough-like type adapted readily to receive and firmly embrace the upper part of the handbag or similar article, and to make a substantially snu fit with the walls thereof.

It is another feature and object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive means for securing said bag to the extent that it will hamper an unauthorized person from obtaining access to the interior thereof, particularly when it is being held suspended from the hand or arm of the user.

While the above-described invention is illustrated and described as used, in connection with a handbag, it will be obvious that it may be used with articles of similar character which are adapted to receive the expedients described and claimed herein.

In the accompanying drawing: 7

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a handbag in which are incorporated an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View thereof, with the closure cap in place on the bag.

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the closure cap raised, and showing in broken lines the position the closure cap may assume when it is removed from the opening of the handbag.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the invention showing a locking attachment added to the closure cap.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the keeper as applied to the bag for association with the locking attachment shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing in detail the slide lock attached to the closure cap.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the handbag H is, except for the features to be hereinafter described, or the conventional type, the sides of which, in closed position, preferably are convergent as they approach the open end thereof. Stitched or otherwise attached, preferably to the inner faces of the rear and front walls l2, respectively of the bag, are a pair of straps or cords [3, adapted to be held in the hand or suspended from the arm or other support. The said straps or loops pass through openings I4, in the roof l5 of an inverted troughlike closure [6, all of whose side walls l1, l1 are preferably divergent or flaring to facilitate accommodating the upper part of the bag and the movement of the closure to operatively closed position. As shown, the free edges of the several sides of the closure are preferably made with a concave curvature, as seen in Fig. 1, so that the four corners l8 will project for some distance beyond or below (depending upon the angle of view), the main body of the closure. Such structure provides a leading edge to facilitate bringing the open ends of the bag together into the closure cap.

It wil1 be apparent that the flared walls of the closure or trough also participate in bringing the open upper ends of the bag together.

The attachment to the front and rear walls of the handbag of the inner ends of straps I3, may be accomplished in a neat fashion by inserting said ends between the main outer fabric or material and the lining, and stitching or otherwise securing the ends to the lining and/or the outer fabric.

If desired, the closure member and bag may be endowed with means for securing said closure in place when in operative position on the bag, to the extent, at least, of hampering or making it difiicult for an unauthorized person attempting to obtain access to the contents of the bag, particularly when the bag is suspended from the hand or arm of the wearer.

While this may be accomplished in many different ways, one means which may be employed for the purpose is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and may comprise on the one hand, one or more keeper plates 20 (Fig. 5) mounted on one wall of the bag, each keeper plate having a bayonet slot 2|, so disposed that it normally will coincide with and receive the reduced portion 22 of a pin 23 slidingly positioned in slot 24 in the side of the closure or trough member 18, one end of the pin 22 being provided with a manipulating plate 25, while the other end is enlarged so that the shoulder will confine pin 22 in the slot 24. V

To remove the closure from the bag in order to obtain access to its contents, the handbag may be grasped with one hand and the plate 25 slid to bring pin 24 to the mouth of the bayonet slot 2| at which time the closure may be lifted upwardly. After the closure pin 24 has been disengaged from the bayonet slot 2|, the closure is moved along the straps and the interior of the bag will be accessible, as shown in Fig.3. At the same time, the closure is kept captive by the straps. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a flexible handbag having an open top, a closure therefor comprising an inverted troughlike member adapted to envelop the bag 'to'p, said closure having flaring sides and end walls, and means for removably interlocking the closure with said handbag, said means comprising bayonet slots in the side walls of the bag and locking pins slidably engaged with the side walls of the closure for removable interengagement with the walls of the bayonet slots.

2. In a flexible handbag having an open top, a closure therefor comprising an inverted troughlike member adapted to envelop the bag top, said closure having flaring sides and end walls, a pair of straps attached to the handbag and passing through laterally spaced holes in the top of said closure, and means for removably interlocking the closure with said handbag, said means comprising bayonet slots in the side walls of the bag and locking pins slidably engaged with the side walls of the closure for removable interengagern'ent With the walls of the bayonet slots.

ROBERT APPEL. 

